English is a bit like programming- one has many choices, and some are better
than others. DBA's could mean, "belonging to the DBA". "DBAs" has only one
meaning. While we're on the subject, " DBAs' " would mean "belonging to more
than one DBA," so you see that the placement of the apostrophe _is_
important. Now, all that being said, I also believe that the purpose of
language is to communicate ideas, and so long as that purpose is met (the
receiver properly interprets the sender's message,) then who cares if the
rules were followed? The rules help to enforce clarity, and therefore proper
interpretation, so it is wise (though, as you point out, not mandatory) to
choose the best rule on each occasion. It also occurs to me that talking
about "rules" and "English" in the same sentence is almost an oxymoron.
There are probably more exceptions than rules. They should really be called
"suggestions". Here's a suggestion from William Safire: "Never use a big
word when a diminutive one will do."
"Keith Boulton" <kboulton_at_ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:kD498.7599$YA2.1482664_at_news11-gui.server.ntli.net...
> > 3. "DBA's" is not correct. The use of an apostrophe in this context is
> > wrong. DBAs is a better alternative.
>
> You can start an argument on that. I (and others) were taught that a
plural
> acronym has an apostrophe before the s.
>
> Not that I care, and in any case, there is no commission that defines the
> English language - you can do what you like with it.
>
>
Received on Sun Feb 10 2002 - 14:42:08 CST
